Autism Evaluations and Diagnosis Paperwork: A few questions

[BigK]

When I was young, my parents had taken me to multiple doctors who all had differing opinions about my diagnosis. After my youngest brother was born in 2010 and revealed to be on the higher end of the spectrum a couple years later, my parents also took me to get evaluated at the University of Illinois' neuropsychological facility some time around 2014 to see if I was also autistic. Turns out that, yeah, they concluded I was on the spectrum as well. Fast forward to today and I decided I wanted to have these papers in my own personal records. After calling their offices today, however, they told me that they delete any testing records older than 7 years in their database, meaning since I didn't get a physical copy of my paperwork before the end of 2021, it's gone. While my mom does have a physical copy somewhere, I'm wondering if it would be better to be reevaluated now as an adult, especially considering there are things that I've gotten better/worse at mentally speaking. I have a few questions in regards to Autism Evaluations and the Diagnosis Paperwork:

1a) Just how important can/are these papers as an adult?
1b) What can I do with this paperwork, if anything?

2) How exactly do I go about getting reevaluated for Autism?

3a) How much will it cost to get reevaluated?
3b) Does Illinois' Medicaid cover these tests?
3c) If not, is there a way to get the payments on these tests waived or reduced?

 

[Neonatal RRT]

1a, 1b. A professional diagnosis is required for any application of government assistance or accommodations via the Americans with Disabilities Act, whether it be employment or the judicial system.

2. There are far more "autism centers", primarily for children. However, as an adult, one may have a more appropriate and thorough evaluation from a local mental health facility or a university-based autism research center.

3a, b, c. Since most insurances due not cover mental health services for adults, the costs can be quite variable. I would contact the billing departments for this information. Some discounts can be applied via appropriate medical coding, then there may be funds available via charitable donation programs.

 

[kriss72]

When I was young, my parents had taken me to multiple doctors who all had differing opinions about my diagnosis. After my youngest brother was born in 2010 and revealed to be on the higher end of the spectrum a couple years later, my parents also took me to get evaluated at the University of Illinois' neuropsychological facility some time around 2014 to see if I was also autistic. Turns out that, yeah, they concluded I was on the spectrum as well. Fast forward to today and I decided I wanted to have these papers in my own personal records. After calling their offices today, however, they told me that they delete any testing records older than 7 years in their database, meaning since I didn't get a physical copy of my paperwork before the end of 2021, it's gone. While my mom does have a physical copy somewhere, I'm wondering if it would be better to be reevaluated now as an adult, especially considering there are things that I've gotten better/worse at mentally speaking. I have a few questions in regards to Autism Evaluations and the Diagnosis Paperwork:

1a) Just how important can/are these papers as an adult?
1b) What can I do with this paperwork, if anything?

2) How exactly do I go about getting reevaluated for Autism?

3a) How much will it cost to get reevaluated?
3b) Does Illinois' Medicaid cover these tests?
3c) If not, is there a way to get the payments on these tests waived or reduced?

I can't help with 2 or 3a-c as I have no idea of how it is where you live - but for 1a-b it has been important for me, both to get help from social services (which I realize is probably also location dependent.... anyway it has gotten me someone who comes to my home every week to help/support me) and getting it as an adult on the job market, my diagnosis papers have a section on accommodations for my working conditions - which the company I work for have embraced (without the paperwork it could be seen as unreasonable requests to e.g. work remote permanently and they understand some days I can do a lot, and others nothing)